Renowned veteran actress Aruna Irani, beloved for her iconic maternal roles in films like ‘Beta’ and ‘Ladla’, has broken her silence on a deeply personal and professional struggle from her past. At 79, the actress revealed how the legendary comedian Mehmood exploited her during the early stages of her career. While acknowledging that Mehmood initially helped her gain financial independence, she also accused him of orchestrating a situation that nearly destroyed her livelihood in the film industry.

In a candid interview, Aruna Irani shared that her vulnerability due to extreme poverty led her to trust Mehmood. “He gave me work when I needed it the most, but later I realized he was exploiting me publicly,” she stated. Mehmood reportedly led her to believe they would get married, a promise he never intended to keep. According to Aruna, despite being married twice before, he kept her in a state of uncertainty for years.

The most damaging part of their association was the misinformation Mehmood allegedly spread within the industry. He claimed that they were already married, which led to a sudden boycott of Aruna by several filmmakers. “Producers stopped casting me because they were terrified that if I became pregnant, their films would be ruined,” the actress recalled. This was the darkest phase of her life, where her professional reputation was tarnished by a lie. It was only after she distanced herself from Mehmood that the industry realized the truth, allowing her career to normalize. Her revelation sheds light on the systemic exploitation and the challenges women faced in the bygone era of Bollywood.